The Association for Research and Enlightenment was founded in 1931 to research and make available information on ESP, dreams, holistic health, meditation and life after death. Thousands of visitors from around the world come to the A.R.E. Headquarters in Virginia Beach, Virginia to attend conferences and lectures.

The A.R.E. Mid-Atlantic Region has offered an annual retreat for the past 35 years to provide a forum where people can gather to learn more about holistic health, meditation, dreams, ESP and reincarnation.